Mop frame and handle connecting device



July 24, 1956 R. B. PARK MOP FRAME AND HANDLE CONNECTING DEVICE Filed May 27. 1953 F/G. 2 'i y Z INVENTOR Z4 ma/ARD a. PARK ATTORNEY Unite States MOP FRAME AND HANDLE CQNNECTING DEVCE Richard B. Park, West Hartford, Conn., assigner to The Fuller Brush Company, Harord, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application May 27, 1953, Serial No. 357,666

4 Claims. (Cl. 15-144) This invention relates to a connecting device for providing a universal pivotal or swivel connection between the frame of a mop or other cleaning implement and the operators handle therefor. This permits easy manipulation of the cleaning implement so that it can be made to assume any cleaning angle relative to the position of the operators handle so as to facilitate the cleaning of relatively inaccessible areas.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a connection of the type described which is simple and inexpensive, which is of light weight and which can be readily assembled to and engaged with the mop frame and the handle,

A further object of the invention is to provide a connection of .the type described which is adapted for use with a mop frame of standard construction.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and from the following specification.

In the drawing I have shown in detail a preferred ernbodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction shown, and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view of a mop frame of the type with which a connecting device embodying the invention is adapted to be used.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a mop frame and an operators handle and a connecting unit embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing reference character generally indicates a frame which is adapted to carry a mopping yarn body or other cleaning device and which is adapted to be attached to an operators handle 12 in the manner hereinafter described. The mop body or cleaning device to be attached to the frame 10 may be of conventional construction and it is not shown as it does not constitute a part of the present invention. The frame 10 may be varied in size and shape as required- Preferably, but not necessarily, the frame 10 includes an oblong structure 14, a substantially rectangular structure 16 surrounded by the structure 14, and a longitudinally extending bar 18. The structures 14 and 16 and the bar 18 may be made of metallic or nonmetallic wire, bar stock or tubing. As shown each of the structures 14 and 16 is made by properly shaping a single strand of wire and then joining the ends thereof by any conventional means such as brazing, soldering or welding or such as any suitable mechanical device. The structure 16 is preferably contained within and located approximately equidistant from the ends of the oblong structure 14, as best shown in Fig. l. The longitudinal legs 20, 20 and 22, 22 of the respective structures 14 and 16 are at- `one-piece construction.

tached to each other, preferably by clips 24 of sheet metal shaped to clamp around the adjacent longitudinal legs 20, 20 and 22, 22. The longitudinally extending bar 18 is substantially on the longitudinal centerline of .the structure 14 and is attached at its ends by brazing, soldering, welding or otherwise to the inner surfaces of the end portions of the said oblong structure. The bar .18 is of such length and is so shaped that it is bowed to pass over the structure 16 and it is preferably in engagement with the transversely lextending legs 26, 26 of the said structure. The portion 29 of the bar 18 that passes .over and extends between the transverse legs 26, 26 of the structure 16 serves as a horizontal longitudinal pivot bar with which a pivot bracket unit 30 may be engaged. The bar 18 is elevated above the other portions of the frame 10 to provide sutiicient vertical clearance for the lower portion of the said pivot bracket unit 30.

The bracket unit 30 preferably comprises two U-shaped brackets 32 and 34 of different size. As best shown `in Fig. 3, the smaller bracket 34 is located within the larger bracket 32 in such a manner that the open ends of said brackets are substantially in alignment while the closed ends form a longitudinal passage to receive the pivot portion 29 of .the bar 18. rAligned holes of equal size are provided in the ,legs of the brackets 32 and 34 for receiving .and fitting va transverse pivot pin 36. When the bracket .unit 30 is assembled on the pivot portion 29 of `the bar 18 and when the pin 36 is inserted in the said holes, the axis of .the pin lies in a plane which is per.- pendicular .to the said pivot portion.

To facilitate assembly of the brackets 32 ,and 34 with each other and with the pivot `bar 29, the vlegs of the brackets may be 4provided with aligned .holes for nece-iving a connecting element-such as a cotter pin 38. 4During assembly, this Cotter pin ,3.8 serves to retain the brackets in proper relationship until ,the pivot zpin 3.6 is in place. Thereafter the cotter pin may be removed if desired, .but removal is not necessary.

Preferably the longitudinal dimensions .of the brackets 32 and 34 are -such that .the larger bracket 32 tits closely between the transverse legs 26, 26 of the structure 16, only small working clearances being provided. Thus the said `transverse legs 26, 26 prevent endwise 'or longitudinal movements of .the brackets. To conserve material and to .reduce weight, the brackets 32 and 34 may be reduced in longitudinal .dimension at .their upper yopen .ends to tablike projections 39.

The pivot pin .36 is shown as being of such length :that its end portions .extend suiciently beyond the brackets 32 and 34 to be engaged .by the handle 12 as `best :shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The details of the handle 12 may be varied but as shown it comprises a shaft 40 and a yoke 42 at the lower end of the shaft.

The yoke 42 is shown as being of two-piece construction, but it will be understood that it could be made of The said yoke is bifurcated at its lower portion and is constructed to provide two aligned partly cylindrical recesses which receive and fit the end portions of the pivot pin 36. Preferably the yoke is so connected with the pin as to prevent endwise movement thereof. As shown, the yoke 42 has two similar spaced legs 44, 44 which are of substantially semi-circular cross sectional shape to closely tit and securely engage the handle shaft 40. The legs 44, 44 of the yoke 42 have aligned apertures which register with a central aperture in the shaft 40. A bolt 46 and a nut 48 extend through the said apertures and serve to connect the legs 44, 44 with each other and with the shaft 40. The yoke 42 is preferably so formed that the partly cylindrical bottom recesses thereof pinch and frictionally grip the end portions of the pin 36 when the bolt and nut are tightened. Thus the yoke 42 has a snug or pinch tit engagement with the pin 36 so that the yoke serves to retain the pin in place and to prevent endwise movement thereof.

While endwise movement of the pin 36 is preferably prevented by the yoke 42, an additional means may be provided for also preventing or at least limiting such endwise movement. As shown, the pin 36 has a central transverse hole and a pin 50, which may be a cotter pin, extends through this hole and between the legs of the inner bracket 34. When the cotter pin 50 is provided, any substantial endwise movement of the pin 36 is prevented in the event that the pin is not properly pinched and held by the yoke 42.

It is evident that a connecting device embodying the invention provides for both longitudinal and transverse pivotal motion of the handle with respect to the frame. The handle is movable about the longitudinal axis of the pivot bar 29 and is also movable about the transverse axis of the pivot pin 36, and a universal pivotal or swivel connection is thus provided. The low center of connection between the bracket unit 30 and the bar 18, with relation to the surface being cleaned, eliminates any tendency of the mop or cleaning implement to tip or roll during operation.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a handle connecting device for a mop, the combination of `a mop frame having a horizontal bar, a bracket unit comprising two U-shaped brackets having different sizes and each having a downwardly facing closed end and parallel upwardly extending legs, the smaller one of the said brackets being within the larger one thereof with the outer faces of the legs of the smaller bracket engaging the inner faces of the legs of the larger bracket and with the closed end of the said smaller and larger brackets respectively above and below the horizontal bar so that the bracket unit is pvotally movable about the axis of the bar, said brackets being provided with holes in their legs near the ends thereof which holes have a common axis perpendicular to the said faces of the legs, a pivot pin passing through said holes, and a mop handle engaging said pin and pvotally movable with respect to the bracket unit about the axis of the pin.

2. In a handle-to-frame connecting device for a mop, the combination of a horizontal bar attached to the frame, a bracket unit comprising two U-shaped brackets having different sizes and each having a downwardly facing closed end and parallel upwardly extending legs, the smaller one of the said brackets being within the larger one thereof with the outer faces of the legs of the smaller bracket engaging the inner faces of the legs of the larger bracket and with the closed ends of the said smaller and larger brackets respectively above and below the horizontal bar so that the bracket unit is pvotally movable about the axis of the bar, said brackets being provided with holes in their legs near the ends thereof which holes have a common axis perpendicular to the said faces of the legs, a pivot pin passing through said holes, a yoke engaging said pin, means in addition to said pin to connect said brackets, and a handle shaft attached to said yoke and pivotally movable with the yoke about the axis of the pin.

3. In a handle to frame connecting device for a mop, the combination of a horizontal bar attached to the frame, a bracket unit comprising two U-shaped brackets having different sizes and each having a downwardly facing closed end and parallel upwardly extending legs, the smaller one of the said brackets being within the larger one thereof with the outer faces of the legs of the smaller bracket engaging the inner faces of the legs of the larger bracket and with the closed ends of the said smaller and larger brackets respectively above and below the horizontal bar so that the bracket unit is pvotally movable about the axis of the bar, said brackets being provided with holes in their legs near the ends thereof which holes have a common axis perpendicular to the said faces of the legs, a pivot pin passing through said holes and having its end portions projecting beyond the brackets, a yoke connected with the projecting end portions of the pin, and a handle shaft rigidly attached to said yoke and pvotally movable with the yoke about the axis of the pin.

4. In a handle to frame connecting device for a mop, the combination of a horizontal bar attached to the frame, a bracket unit comprising two U-shaped brackets having different sizes and each having a downwardly facing closed end and parallel upwardly extending legs, the smaller one of the said brackets being within the larger one thereof with the outer faces of the legs of the smaller bracket engaging the inner faces of the legs of the larger bracket and with the closed ends of the said Smaller and large brackets respectively above and below the hori zontal bar so that the bracket unit is pvotally movable about the axis of the bar, said brackets being provided with holes in their legs near the ends thereof which holes have a common axis perpendicular to the said faces of the legs, a pivot pin passing through said holes and having its end portions projecting beyond the brackets, a yoke connected with the projecting end portions of the pin, means engaging the pin between the legs of the smaller bracket for limiting endwise movement of the pin, and a handle shaft rigidly attached to said yoke and pvotally movable with the yoke about the axis of the pin.

References Cited in the leof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,922,621 Hertzberg Aug. l5, 1933 1,998,634 Oberti Apr. 23, 1935 2,310,011 Cave et al. Feb. 2, 1943 2,655,413 Russell Oct. 13, 1953 

